It's not that unusual to feel apprehensive before giving a speech. It's natural to be nervous; feeling like you're on stage and exposed is enough to make anybody squirm. But, if your feelings of uneasiness don't go away with practice, it could be a sign of a serious issue called "Public Speaking Anxiety" (PSA).
Anxiety is the body's natural response to stressful situations, like the proverbial fight-or-flight response. For most people, those anxieties are present but manageable and pass quickly when the situation is resolved; for others, anxiety may become so intense or persistent that it interferes with everyday life. This is the kind of fear someone faces when they participate in a speech.
While you may never have to give a speech in your lifetime, you might eventually be required to do so in the workplace. If that's the case, knowing how to detect PSA will keep you from getting nervous and feeling like you're on stage when presenting information to others.
The signs and symptoms of PSA may differ from person to person, but you'll be familiar with some of the most common things that people feel. Here are a few:
Physical symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, trembling or shaking hands, dizziness or feeling faint, heart palpitations etc.
Mental symptoms: Feeling like your mind is "flooded" by everything ("chatter box"), thoughts racing ("head rush"), nervousness ("butterflies in the stomach"), sweating or feeling your face flush ("hot flashes"), increased appetite and weight gain or loss etc.
Classic advice to mitigate PSA is to do some research and prepare a list of things you'd like to say/give. This is not a very effective method; it just leads to more anxiety. Instead, try something else. Here's an example:
Don't think about the steps ahead of time (the problem is that you are worrying about what will happen if you mess up). Don't think about the audience at all, pretend they don't exist. Don't overthink too much what you'll say. Don't go over prepared; there's nothing worse than a speaker who can't stop talking and gives a boring speech (this will be your downfall). Speak from your heart, with no script or notes. Talk to one person, even if there are hundreds. Speak up; too soft a voice is hard to hear (people won't listen to a whisper). Don't pace around like you're walking through a tightrope; this will only incite more anxiety. Try not to drink too much caffeine (caffeine is a stimulant that can make you feel very nervous) Avoid listening to other people's speeches as well, or anything that has the potential for making you nervous (news on TV, radio etc.)
As with any problem, the best way to approach anxiety is when it's still small. Start by keeping it in mind, but don't let it overtake you. Once you get used to it, you can start working on reducing its power.
This is an extract from the book "How To Distinguish Public Speaking Problems." If you'd like to know more of my opinions and thoughts on speech giving (or just want to leave a comment), feel free to do so here or drop me an email: luke@lukehansard.com. All comments are welcome :)
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